The Hunting Permission Loophole No One’s Talking About

 

 

Joplin’s urban bowhunting   ordinance requires hunters to carry written permission from the landowner but there’s no standardized form, no verification system, and no requirement for notarization.

That means a poacher could:

  • Print a fake letter claiming permission
  • Forge a signature
  • Hunt on wooded private property without the landowner ever knowing

This loophole is especially dangerous on wooded parcels over one acre, where visibility is low and enforcement is rare. These lots often unfenced, unmonitored, or owned by absentee landlords become easy targets for disguised trespass.

“Nobody’s checking,” said one Joplin resident. “And if they are, it’s after the deer’s already harvested.”

Without a notarized document or city-verified registry, anyone with a bow and a story can claim legitimacy. And once the arrow flies, the damage is done.

 

Image shoes Bowhunter letter of permission being nobody checking to see if letters are authentic in Joplin MO forged

What Landowners Can Do to Protect Their Property

To prevent unauthorized hunting and protect resident wildlife, landowners should:

  • Post “No Hunting” or “No Trespassing” signs at visible entry points
  • Use purple paint on trees or posts (Missouri’s legal alternative to signage)
  • Require notarized permission documents for any hunter claiming access
  • Install game cameras to monitor wooded areas
  • Report suspicious activity to the Missouri Department of Conservation
    📞 1-800-392-1111

These steps don’t just protect property they protect trust, safety, and the emotional fabric of the neighborhood.  

 Closing Reflection

Joplin urban bowhunting isn’t just about deer it’s about trust. And when poachers enter the neighborhood, that trust collapses.

Joplin could have chosen a controlled hunt.
It could have required notarized permission between landowner and hunter.
It could have protected wooded parcels from forged access.